Kaylee McKeown silences Cate Campbell: ‘we weren’t too impressed’

Australia’s top female swimmer has hit out at sporting great Cate Campbell over comments she made criticising the American swim team.

Australia’s top female swimmer has hit out at inflammatory comments by Olympic great Cate Campbell, in which she labelled the American swim team “sore losers”.

Kaylee McKeown said Campbell did not speak for all Australia’s swimmers in her scathing criticism of the US after they were overshadowed by an emergent Aussie team at the World Aquatics Championships in Japan.

“The rivalry between Swimming Australia and the American team has been like that for decades, it is not anything new,” McKeown told The Daily Telegraph, promoting her being the first ever female ambassador for grooming brand, Wahl, that has launched four new women’s shavers and beauty trimmers.

“In saying that though, I think there is a right and wrong way to say things and Cate is entitled to her opinion but I just want the US to know that she is not speaking on behalf of the whole Australian team.”

Swimmer Kaylee McKeown in Sydney for WAHL as the first female ambassador for the brand. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Christian Gilles

The 22-year-old, who won three gold and two silver medals in Japan, continued: “She (Campbell) wasn’t in Japan and so for her to make those comments, it kind of makes us athletes, not look bad, but we don’t think what she said. We weren’t too impressed that she had her two cents to put in.”

Kaylee McKeown wasn’t impressed. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)

Campbell let rip at the American team in a TV appearance on Wednesday.

America tried to claim victory overall with the most number of medals at the championships, despite Australia securing the most gold medals with 13. Australia also broke four world records in Japan.

“Such sore losers,” Campbell said on the Today show.

“I mean Australia coming out on top of the world is one thing, but it is just so much sweeter beating America.

Kaylee McKeown. (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images)

Olympic Swimming Cate Campbell at the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre. Picture: Liam Kidston

“The first night of competition, we did not have to hear ‘Star Spangled Banner’ ring out through the stadium. I cannot tell you how happy that made me.

“If I hear that song again it will be too soon. Bring on Paris. That’s all I have to say to the US. Stop being sore losers.”

Of her partnership with Wahl, McKeown said grooming was an important part of her pre-swim routine.

“With swimming we are talking literally milliseconds and that could literally be a hair on my legs,” she said. “The shave down is a big thing so you are nice and smooth in the water, it makes you feel like you are getting ready for a race.”

Originally published as Kaylee McKeown silences Cate Campbell: ‘we weren’t too impressed’